A police dog has been forced into retirement after he was savaged by a pit bull terrier in the line of duty.

Max, a German Shepherd, can no longer work after what his handler PC Jon Kelly described as an “horrific attack”.

He was helping to catch two burglars, when he was set on by a pit bull terrier, which bit his leg and neck.

PC Kelly, of Lancashire Constabulary, said: “I am heartbroken that Max's working life has been cut short by such a violent and horrific attack.

“Max was simply doing his job and without any reservation, if he had not been present, I would have sustained life-changing injuries should the vicious pit bull have attacked me instead.

"He’d worked for five years helping to trace burglars, find missing people and track down stolen property, but has now been retired.

“As his handler, I was Max's world. He was 100 per cent a one-man dog.

“He would never leave my side and was always desperate to please. In fact, people would pass comment that his eyes would rarely stop focusing on me and he was constantly checking to see where I was and if I was okay.

“We formed an extremely close bond, working together every day for five years. Until this horrific attack, Max had never missed a day’s work.”

Max had worked on jobs including the EDL protest in Blackburn in 2011.

PC Kelly, who is hoping to raise money for the Retired Police Dogs Benevolent Fund, added: “He was a dream to work with as he was a natural police dog.

"His work ethic was second to none and his determination to find criminals who had fled from crime scenes or who were hiding or lying low in open spaces was phenomenal.

“Like all police dogs, Max didn't realise the seriousness of what I was asking of him when deployed to find thieves, violent offenders, injured missing people or people self-harming. He just viewed it all as big extremely enjoyable stress free game of hide and seek.”

Max is now living with one of PC Kelly’s colleagues, who had been a police dog handler for over 20 years.

The officer said: “Max has settled into civilian life really well and is enjoying stress free days of long walks, lots of treats and love and affection.”